Wisdom is a Woman
Exploring the Wisdom of God
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Wisdom is a woman. I venture that most men, and not a few women, would disagree with that statement. But would they still do so after reading the following quote: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." Wisdom is justified by her deeds.
If these few words from the mouth of Jesus were the only connection between wisdom and the female, this quote could be overlooked as a simple play on words. But this is far from the only such association in the Bible, which caused me to wonder what could be learned from an examination of wisdom in Scripture and the female half of humanity.
Any such comparative study, of course, is only viable if the Christian Bible is considered to be an authoritative source. In the opinion of some, the Bible is a “faith book” containing stories that express or enhance Christians’ faith without much historical basis. In other words, the passages are metaphor or allegory that presumably reflect truth in the most tangential of manners. If that is your personal conclusion about the Bible, then you may find this journey as unsatisfying as any teacher would a term paper that quotes comic books instead of the encyclopedia.
But perhaps, even if you have issues with some Biblical passages, you may be willing, on occasion, to “suspend your disbelief” a bit, the same way you would when reading a sci-fi novel or watching a movie based on a modern fairy tale.
Others may concede that the Bible is reliable source material, even for a study on the topic of wisdom. But, they may ask, why spend the time doing so? Why not engage in a myriad of more interesting activities? If one has to read, why not a novel instead of a book about wisdom? Even the name seems dry and stodgy. How could time spent studying wisdom in an ancient, albeit hallowed, book be of any benefit to a resident of the modern world?
In the words of the wisest king on record: “How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening its harshness.” It sounds like wisdom increases IQ and provides a beauty treatment in a single package. I do not know about you, but that has my attention. Join me, if you will, on this journey of discovery.
“So come now, and let us reason together.” The Lord has asked this of all generations. For those who take Him up on it, there is much for us to learn. And, of course, there is wisdom to gain.
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About the Book
Wisdom is a woman. That is not just my opinion or some new academic theory. Wisdom is a woman because the Bible tells us so. It tells us that wisdom is more than just a benefit or a characteristic. In the Bible, wisdom is sometimes a person. When so personified, wisdom is always a woman. Sometimes she is Lady Wisdom. Sometimes she is Madame Insight. Most often she goes incognito; yet the shadow she casts is always a female form. Perhaps it is this very tendency to eschew the spotlight that has allowed us to overlook her for so long.
It has not helped that pastors, theologians, and Bible scholars have historically been men. And much of Scripture chronicles God’s interaction with men, not women. But what if this centuries-long focus of and on men has had a subtle influence on Christian orthodoxy? What if some passages in Scripture remain unexplored, as undisturbed as the thick layer of dust that covers the top of every refrigerator in America? Wisdom Is a Woman examines just such dust-laden biblical passages.
This is a journey of discovery that helps us look at things we thought we knew with fresh eyes. Luckily for us, we do not take this journey into dusty cupboards and overgrown gardens alone. Our guide throughout is Lady Wisdom, a formidable dame who knows every stone, tree root, and hidden pitfall along the way.
She will take us back to the very beginnings of our world. We will focus for a time on Biblical women, from Eve to Priscilla. We will examine women in a general sense, looking for clues in our study of wisdom. We will visit the Proverbs 31 woman and tour Lady Wisdom’s academy. Our journey will compare the lives and work of two wise Biblical men and end with a step-by-step correlation between women and wisdom.
About the Author
Traditional denominational worship, Charismatic renewal, and evangelical emphasis mark the spiritual life of Heidi Lee. She has made her career in real estate, experiencing corporations, small businesses, and self-employment. Life experience along with a deep and abiding relationship with her Lord provide a balance of the spiritual and the pragmatic. She and her husband raised two sons who are married with families of their own.